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We were introduced to Mark Goldstein, the industry veteran with over 30 years of experience, at CEDIA 2018. Mark now represents Coastal Source Outdoor Audio and Landscape Lighting. He is extremely personable, endlessly excited about sound engineering, and a wealth of knowledge in the home automation industry. Mark promised us an interview after the conference and we were thrilled to take him up on it.

Mark’s career trails back to the early 1970s, earning his Audio Engineering degree while working in a radio station. He then added Sound Stage Engineer to his list of skills. Mark moved to Florida in the ’80s and served as a Director of Training in the field for 10 years at Sound Advice, a large Florida consumer electronics retailer, before joining Coastal Source.

Check out our Q&A with Mark on the industry and the current trends in Landscape Lighting and Outdoor Audio…

Acoustic Architects (AA): How did Coastal Source get started?

Mark Goldstein (MG): Coastal Source came from a design-build company for high-end properties in South Florida and the Florida Keys. The D’Ascanio brothers (Franco, Tony, and Amedeo) included custom electronics integration in designs for clients. They found that the lighting components were always corroding, and therefore in need of constant replacement. To solve the problem, Franco created lighting technology that could withstand the elements of the coastal environment. However, he came up against a challenge before making his design a reality. He went to several lighting manufacturers, who said he had a great idea, but they didn’t want to change their manufacturing processing, so they shelved it.

The D’Ascanios brothers were in the process of building a home for the Zimmerman family, a long time client. During the process, the Zimmermans asked if there was a better way to do lighting. Franco presented his idea, they loved it, and Coastal Source was born. The two families began the work of design, research, and testing in the Florida Keys, with operational support and shipping out of New Jersey. The result was the high-end corrosion-resistant products we have today.

AA: Can you tell us about the most innovative Coastal Source products being presented at CEDIA?

MG: Line array speakers are the new top of the line, scheduled to come out in 6 months. They are capable of projecting sound long distances with little loss in volume. This is a very innovative concept. The array of tweeters is curved for sound optimization at various distances. The top 4 tweeters project sound three to twenty feet from the source, with the middle four managing the mid-distance, and the lower tweeters projecting fifty to a hundred feet. However, the sound volume and intensity are the same at any distance.

We also rolled out the Omnidirectional Speakers, which provide 360 degrees of sound. They have a down-firing inverted woofer (dome) with a ribbon tweeter on top. These speakers boast accurate smooth response and hide well, only 8 inches above the ground.

On the lighting side, we’ve introduced Hinge and Edge outdoor lighting. The sleek aluminum structure of Hinge is intended for the purpose of highlighting footpaths and architectural features. The Edge is a flexible linear strip, slim in depth and height. It is perfect for lighting steps for clear definition in the dark.

AA: What sets your products apart from others in the market?

MG: Coastal Source designs both Landscape Lighting and Outdoor Audio to withstand the elements, to provide a long lasting product. The speakers are also unique in that they are designed to be musical instead of just filling the space. Other speakers do not sound as musical so the customer needs multiple sets to get the same clarity and distribution. As I mentioned before, Line Array Speakers fill large outdoor spaces with just one pair, but they also fill that space in an upward arc, eliminating the need for additional speakers in the large outdoor space.

AA: What is the future for Coastal Source?

MG: Constant innovation. We’ve always got more products in the development lab. Coastal Source has a unique business model. We emphasize the importance of direct distribution and do business with competent integrators like Acoustic Architects. When only professional installers can get ahold of the product, the outcome is a superior experience and more value for the client. That is a big deal to Coastal Source.

AA: Where do you see the future of the AV industry headed?

MG: I foresee the products being more widespread, in more homes, and easily available to a larger variety of income brackets. Home automation is now mostly spread among the $500,000 home value market, and above. I assume it will continue to proliferate into a larger segment of the population. There is now a big advertising push from manufacturers to DIYs but homeowners will see the benefit of having a professional integrator do the installation and maintenance of the products.

Responsive Living, the term coined by Acoustic Architects founders, Aaron Flint and Spencer Hauldren, is the concept of seamlessly enhancing the client’s unique lifestyle using smart home technology. Responsive Living allows you to interact with your space via touch input, voice command, and predictive automation, placing you in full control of your home.

If you would like to learn more about Landscape Lighting and Outdoor Audio, feel free to connect with us. We will be happy to schedule a demo with you.